Arrived in Aboukir Bay on 1st March but unable to disembark for a week due to poor weather. The beaches were stormed and the French beaten off with heavy losses.

13th March

Attack on Mandora

44th brigaded with the 2nd, 30th and 89th in 4th Brigade. The French made a stand in front of the old Mandora Tower but were defeated and pushed back in disorder.

21st March

Battle of Alexandria

Also called the battle of Canope

General Abercromby had advanced along the coast towards Alexandria when he reached the ruins of Nicopolis and deployed his 14,000 men across a narrow spit of land between the sea and Lake Abukir. The French chose to attack in column, were devastated by the volleys of the British.

27th June

Siege of Cairo

After a few days siege, the French in Cairo, out gunned and out manned, surrendered to British and Turkish forces on 27th June.

31st August

Siege of Alexandria

The 44th were brigaded with 25th and 2 battalions of the 27th in the 1st Brigade. From 26th August both sides mounted combined assaults but the French were unable to break out. On 2nd September 10,000 French surrendered and Egypt fell to the British.

1809

24th June

Menacing of Naples

As a diversion to assist the Austrians who were campaigning against the French, it was decided to menace the Kingdom of Naples. The 44th was brigaded with the 27th and on 24th June. Prodica was taken followed quickly by Ischia. However, news of the French defeat of the Austrians at Wagram negated any point for the campaign and on 26th June the Fleet returned to Sicily.

1814

19th August

Landing at Benedict

The 1/44th embarked at Pouillac on 29th May and sailed for America in early June and landed unmolested at St Benedict on the river Patuxent on 19th August as part of a force consisting 4,500 men under the command of Major General Ross. The 44th were split between two Brigades, the light company being brigaded in the 1st Brigade whilst the bulk of the 44th were brigaded in the 2nd Brigade.

21st August

Advance on Washington

The army advanced on Washington flanked by Rear Admiral Cockburn’s fleet. On 21st August the army had reached Nottingham and the Americans were forces to burn their Chesapeake Bay Flotilla and retreat to Washington.

24th August

Battle of Bladensburg

The Americans under Brigadier General Stansbury were ordered to Bladensburg to block the British. Ross reached Bladensburg at around noon on the 24th, he held the Americans to his front whilst the 44th crossed the river and advanced on the American left. The Americans were ordered to retreat, those facing the 44th did not receive the order to retire and were overwhelmed. The 44th lost one sergeant and 13 rankers killed with 35 rankers wounded. The gallantry of Colonel Mullins and the 44th commented on. Washington was entered the same day.

12th September

Baltimore

The town of Baltimore was a strategic target. The army were landed at North Point on 12th September some 13 miles from Baltimore. During the early skirmish, Major General Ross was killed and command devolved upon Colonel Brooke. The following day, the British advanced to Baltimore to no avail. On 14th September, Brooke ordered the retreat .

4th October

Landing on the Potomac

The 44th were part of a force sent to attack an American formation a few miles from the Potomac. The Americans learnt of the attack and fled leaving the British force to return the following day.

1815

8th January

New Orleans

The planned attack on General Jackson’s forces was set for 8th January. The 44th were placed in the brigade tasked with assaulting the enemy lines. Under Brevet Colonel Mullens they were to carry forward the fascines and scaling ladders to be used in the frontal assault. Mullins did not check the location of the fascines and ladders and as a result, the 44th were not in the advance with necessary materials when the attack was made. Confusion reigned. For 20 minutes the troops stood in the open pounded by the Americans until General Lambert assumed command and ordered an immediate withdrawal. The 44th suffered 2 officers, 1 sergeant and 32 rankers killed with 10 officers, 5 sergeants and 149 rankers wounded. A further officer, 2 sergeants and 76 rankers were captured

7th February

Mobile

After the defeat at New Orleans, it was decided to continue towards Mobile. Major General Lambert landed on Dauphin Island on 28th January with the 4th, 21st and 44th Regiments and prepared to attack Fort Bowyer. General Jackson, the garrison commander realised that he had no hope and on February 11th capitulated – 2 days before news of the treaty of Ghent reached the Gulf Coast.